'We have a statewide problem': GOP irritated over losing streak, Democrats prepare for new era of Wisconsin politics

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Now that the state Supreme Court election is over, big changes are coming to Wisconsin.

Liberals are preparing to take advantage of their new 4-3 majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court after Janet Protasiewicz cruised to a double-digit victory over her conservative opponent Dan Kelly on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Republicans are processing another defeat after losing the last 14 out of 17 statewide elections.

"We've got some soul searching on the Republican side," said Bill McCoshen, a longtime Republican lobbyist and campaign strategist. "We're not doing well, and it's been that way for six years and the formula we are using is not working."

After Kelly lost by double digits for the second time in three years, and Republicans saw statewide defeats during the 2022 midterms, McCoshen said the party has a problem.

"We have a statewide problem," he said. "We're doing great at the legislative level because they have a proactive agenda voters can identify with, but our statewide candidates haven't been connecting with voters and that's part of the problem."

Those legislative victories could soon be upended with Democrats and their allies planning to file a lawsuit to redraw the heavily favored GOP legislative maps that are widely characterized as some of the most gerrymandered in the country.

Once Protasiewicz is sworn into office Aug. 1, Democratic leaders say be prepared to see a flurry of legal challenges filed before the court.

"Since 2011, Republicans have worked to rig Wisconsin so Democrats cannot win and tonight changes everything," Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said Tuesday.

Tweaking the district lines, referred to as redistricting, is not the only settled case law Democrats and their allies want to reopen, Wikler said.

"It could mean changes to policies the public has been crying out for on gun safety, workers' rights, on reproductive freedoms, the environment -- so many different things where no progress has been made," said Wikler.

Both sides of the political aisle also agree abortion, yet again, was a major motivating favor in the race as the state's near-total abortion ban enacted in 1849 was a key issue Protasiewicz focused on during the campaign.

Justices are anticipated to hear a challenge by Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul who are trying to repeal the law that only allows medical professionals to perform an abortion to save the life of a pregnant mother.

In the meantime, as long as there's a criminal abortion ban in effect, McCoshen believes Republicans will continue to struggle in statewide elections.